From Fishpond:
Fly Fishers International has awarded Fishpond the 2018 FFI Conservation Award for their commitment to the environment, and the steps they have taken, like Patagonia, (a previous FFI Conservation Award recipient) to develop and support a corporate environmental conscience as a company reflecting the owners commitment to
conservation. Fishpond is humbled to receive this accolade from FFI for our commitment to habitat and species protection and our ten-year dedication to recycled materials with our signature Cyclepond fabrics.
Conservation is one of the founding principals of Fly Fishers International. Contributing over
50 years of conservation work, FFI is proud to continue protecting fisheries and angling opportunities
for the future. As William Nelson, past President stated so clearly in 1964- “We have been slow to realize the role of political pressures in conservation and are of the opinion now that a united desire for the things that are necessary to perpetuate our sport of fly fishing is the only way to keep from losing many of the things we hold so dear”. FFI’s unified mission continues to this day. FFI’s Conservation Committee works with local club and councils to identify projects worth of funding through a small grants program, and selects individuals and
organizations on a yearly basis for their awards program that meet strict criteria.
Each year at the International Fly Fishing Fair in Boise, Idaho, awards are given to various individuals
and groups who exemplify the mission and values of the FFI. They take these awards
seriously, following clearly defined procedures and criteria.
FFI has been an organized voice for fly fishers around the world since 1964. We represent all
aspects of fly fishing –from the art of fly tying and casting, to protection of the natural systems
that support healthy fisheries and their habitats so essential to our sport. Today, their mission
is to ensure the legacy of fly fishing for all fish in all waters continues by focusing on conservation,
education and a sense of community.
Fishpond founder and CEO, Johnny Le Coq, and his equal business partners Ben and Will Kurtz, believe that what Fishpond stands for as a company is equally if not more important than the products they create. Say’s Le Coq, “ Since our inception almost 20 years ago, Fishpond is excited and very proud to be the first fly fishing business to become a certified B Corporation, and together with 1200 other companies in 50 countries, we use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. This prestigious designation is awarded to companies that use the power of business to solve social and environmental obstacles and meet higher standards of transparency and accountability. B Corporations are a diverse community with one unifying goal: to redefine success in business by making our world a better place to live within, not only for humans, but also for all species. This ultimately means we are legally committed to working for environmental and social benefit, which goes beyond our financial performance as a company.
Fishpond looks to the future with a goal of creating a positive difference for our planet by creating innovative products for the outdoor recreation consumer that communicates the importance of healthy species, water and habitat. It’s that simple.”
For further information about FFI, please contact at 406-222-9369 or email conservation@
flyfishersinternational.org
The awards ceremony and gala dinner will be held on August 9th in Boise, Idaho.
ABOUT FISHPOND
The heartbeat of Fishpond remains an authentic connection to those who love the places we
fish and explore. We are one, a tribe that values the journey to our destination, almost as much
as our time on the water. We are friends of our wild places far away, and those in our own
backyards. Thank you for sharing in our vision and for helping us be the brand that is trying
to make a difference.
